Brass vs. Steel Cased Ammo – An Epic Torture Test

There are two major types of centerfire rifle cartridges available on the market today:

• Those which are loaded with steel, and
• Those which are loaded with brass

This seemingly simple variation has caused a never ending stream of argument, discussion, speculation, and questioning from new and seasoned shooters alike.  Complicating the conversation are other variables that typically get lumped into the argument without proper segmentation, such as:

Biltong - Jerky and Food Safety

Jerky and Food Safety
When raw meat or poultry is dehydrated at home — either in a warm oven or a food dehydrator — to make jerky which will be stored on the shelf, pathogenic bacteria are likely to survive the dry heat of a warm oven and especially the 130 to 140 °F of a food dehydrator. Included here is the scientific background behind drying food to make it safe and the safest procedure to follow when making homemade jerky.

See also the links to related articles at the end of this page.

What is jerky?
This product is a nutrient-dense meat that has been made lightweight by drying. A pound of meat or poultry weighs about four ounces after being made into jerky. Because most of the moisture is removed, it is shelf stable — can be stored without refrigeration — making it a handy food for backpackers and others who don't have access to refrigerators.

Jerky is a food known at least since ancient Egypt. Humans made jerky from animal meat that was too big to eat all at once, such as bear, buffalo, or whales. North American Indians mixed ground dried meat with dried fruit or suet to make "pemmican." "Biltong" is dried meat or game used in many African countries. Our word "jerky" came from the Spanish word "charque."

Four Fundamentals of Marksmanship

The soldier must understand and apply the four key fundamentals before he approaches the firing line. He must establish a steady position allowing observation of the target. He must aim the rifle at the target by aligning the sight system, and fire the rifle without disturbing this alignment by improper breathing or during trigger squeeze. These skills are known collectively as the four fundamentals. Applying these four fundamentals rapidly and consistently is the integrated act of firing.

Steady Position

When the soldier approaches the firing line, he should assume a comfortable, steady firing position. The time and supervision each soldier has on the firing line are limited. He must learn how to establish a steady position during integrated act of dry-fire training. The firer is the best judge of the quality of his position. If he can hold the front sight post steady through the fall of the hammer, he has a good position. The steady position elements are as follows.

Navy SEAL Training Tips: Mental Preparation

[The following is an excerpt from SEAL SURVIVAL GUIDE: A Navy SEAL's Secrets to Surviving Any Disaster, written by Former Navy SEAL and preeminent American survivalist Cade Courtley.]

The brain is the strongest muscle in the body. You've heard stories of how combat soldiers have been shot repeatedly but were not aware of it until the fight was over. These stories are true, and the power to do such things comes from the mind and can be tapped into by practicing mental preparation. This practice can allow you to far exceed your physical limitations. Just as you train other muscles, you can train the brain with mental-preparedness exercises -- and you don't need to go to the gym to do it! It's an exercise you can do anywhere. I can't stress enough how important mental preparedness is for surviving and enduring any life-threatening situation that you could encounter. This is how you practice it.

Rampage Shootings: It's the Moral Decay of Society, not Guns

By Rachel Alexander

It should come as no surprise that the rate of mass shootings at schools and in other public places is increasing. The surge has nothing to do with guns, which have been widely available in the U.S. for years. Gun control laws have been increasing. Instead, there is a direct correlation between the increase in violence and the gradual degradation of morals, ethics and parenting. We are cultivating mental illness in our society.

How to Clean a Rifle Barrel the Right Way

Rifle Barrel Cleaning
By Jim Borden

Rifle barrel cleaning seems to be something that is approached like witchcraft. I have read numerous articles on the subject and as an experienced rifle builder and competitive shooter, I have become very concerned with many of the methods and materials that are proposed for cleaning rifle barrels.

Handgun Cartridge Power Chart

By Chuck Hawks
Source: http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_power_chart.htm

Range Finding - How to estimate distance

I'm still doing simple things like estimating distance based on "how many football fields" it appears to be. Closer it matters less for a rifle, but with a pistol its good to know if that shot you just made is at 10 meters or 30 meters.

One trick I use when outdoors for telling how much daylight is high target and your thumb nail for example:

Extend your hand doing a big thumbs up in front of you.

Your entire thumbnail will cover a 12" target at a certain distance.
Half the height of your thumbnail will cover a 12" target at a certain distance.
A quarter of your thumbnail will cover a 12" target at a certain distance, and so on.

But we need to be more accurate.....

.357 Magnum Hornady Critical Defense Ammo Gel Test

Penetration and expansion test of the .357 Magnum Hornady Critical Defense, 125 grain JHP using a diluted form of SIM-TEST Ballistic Testing Media. This format is comparable to ballistic gel, and includes four layers of denim. The inclusion of denim is an IWBA protocol.

Video includes brief overview of the cartridge, recoil shots, and one shot test. Post-shot evaluation shows bullet path through the block, average diameter, and retained weight. Test gun was a Ruger GP100 with 3" barrel. Chronograph velocites are noted in the video.

 VERY IMPORTANT INFO REGARDING AMMO TESTS ON THIS CHANNEL: 

Please understand that these techniques are merely representations to indicate possible ballistics; they are not intended to replicate real-world street results. There are just too many factors involved in a self-defense scenario to offer a 100% degree of accuracy when compared to street results. It is essential to perform exhaustive research on your carry choice, which could yield actual use data. The law-abiding citizen bears ultimate responsibility for their ammunition choice and insuring reliability in their handgun. 

Boereregte om eiendom te beskerm - Wanneer mag jy skiet?

Ek dink dit is belangrik dat almal hulself vergewis van hul regte in die verband.

JY MAG JOUSELF BESKERM

Advokaat Albert J. Murphy het ‘n regsopinie hieroor geskryf wat ons regte deeglik omvat!

As jy voel dat die situasie in hierdie vir jou enige bedreiging inhou, maak seker jy is vertroud met die inhou van die skrywe!

Brief nr. 1